Page 52 of Teach Me to Laugh

When nothing more than coals simmered in the hearth, Beckett announced, “You know, in our room there’s a real nice bathtub.” I tensed, waiting for him to proposition something that would obliterate all the trust I had in him. “Why don’t you take one of your bubble baths and I’ll put out the fire. I broughtGame of Thrones,so when you’re done relaxing we can watch afew episodes before bed.” The smile was loud in his next words. “I promise I’ll build a small fire in our room before bed too.”

Yeah—I was right, the man really was flawless.

“Okay,” everything he proposed sounded like a dream. I stood. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

He nodded, watching me toss the throw blanket over the back of the couch. Then I headed for the stairs.

I was in the bedroom, inspecting the perfection of the rustically chic décor when there was a knock on the door. My heart did a little jive as I called, “Come in.”

Beckett appeared with my suitcase. “Thought you might need this.”

Blushing, I explained, “Totally didn’t even think about what I’d wear after my bath.”

He winked, “I’d say nothing, but as you’ve told me before, you’re not that kind of girl.”

I didn’t know why, but his teasing didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. Instead, I felt a rush of heat shooting straight for that place between my legs. My blush turned something fierce and I tucked my hair behind my ear, “Ha. Ha.”

He laughed. I freaking loved the sound of his laugh. “I’ll leave you to it.”

He did leave me to it, and as I undressed in the huge warm bathroom, stepping into the beautiful free-standing bathtub, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking of the last boy I’d given my trust to—and how in the end he’d burned me so badly I thought I’d never heal.

It was the first time I thought of Jayden and didn’t feel the rush of fear pulsing with every beat of my heart.

It was the first time I thought of Jayden, and believed that maybe there was someone good and pure enough to chase away the pain so that maybe I could believe in laughter again.

It was the first time since the demolition of all that I was, with a boy who didn’t deserve everything I gave, that I felt hope.

“Yes!” I clapped, jumping up from the couch in victory. “Why don’t I feel like the brutality of his death was enough?”

“Because it wasn’t. I get the public humiliation of it, but the guy was horrible. I don’t feel vindicated.” Beckett agreed, grinning up at me.

“I know,” Seriously, Joffrey fromGame of Throneswas probably one of the all-time worst characters I’d ever encountered. “I hated him.”

“He doesn’t get any better watching it a second time around. The shit he does is still shocking even knowing what’s coming.”

“I’ll bet.” In a way, he kind of reminded me of Jayden. Only, Jayden wasn’t quite so messed up, thank heaven for that.

The thought of Jayden had my mood spiraling into crash and burn territory. Beckett saw it, because before I knew it, I felt his hands on my hips and I was flat on my back on the couch. Then he was tickling me. Tickling me!

Shouting, “Stop it!” I fought, struggling and failing to escape. “What are you—argh, doing?”

“Tickling you. Saw your face fall, peanut.”

“I hate,” I gasped. “Being,” I kicked out at him, pushing my foot into his gut to push his body away from mine. “Tickled!”

He laughed and I rolled from the couch, making a run for our room. I heard him shut off the TV and then I heard footsteps pounding on the floor, coming nearer to me. Slipping through the door, I tried to slam it closed aiming to lock him out, but his hand stopped the door from latching. On another shriek, I bolted into the bedroom, cutting my losses on locking the door.

Beckett charged into the space, his warm whiskey eyes dancing as they landed on me. “I like chasing you.”

“I don’t like being chased.”

“Liar.”

“Oh no, buddy,” I shook my head. “Not this time.”

He shook his head in disbelief, prowling closer. Again, I shrieked my command, “Stop hunting me!”

“I like hunting you,” he winked. “Gets the blood flowing.”

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